China confirms deployment of fighters to South China Sea island for first time

China has for the first time confirmed the deployment of fighter jets to Woody Island in the disputed South China Sea, state media have reported.

04/12/2017

Weekly News 4/12 - 10/12

-(The Australian 5/12) China taking lead in Indo-Pacific arms race: The US and Australia must invest urgently in military technologies and innovation to help combat the threat posed by a rising China. -(East Asia Forum 5/12) ASEAN needs to move to minilateralism: To save the principle of ASEAN centrality, the regional body should transcend its consensus-based decision-making and embrace minilateral...

05/12/2017

Australia hits China's activities in South China Sea in foreign policy paper

Expressing concern over the scale of China's activities in the disputed South China Sea, Australia urged all claimants to clarify the full nature of their claims in accordance with international law.

06/12/2017

Weekly News 11/12 - 17/12

-(Bloomberg 15/12) As Tensions Ease, Beijing Keeps Building in the South China Sea: New satellite imagery shows China has built infrastructure covering 72 acres (28 hectares) in the Spratly and Paracel islands during 2017 to equip its larger outposts to be air and naval bases. -(The Australian 15/12) Beijing dresses down Australia’s Navy Chief over SCS: China’s top naval commander has hit out at...

11/12/2017

China Quietly Building More Facilities in the South China Sea

China has begun work or completed building infrastructure on about 72 acres (29 hectares) of land on outposts in the South China Sea this year, according to a report by the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

14/12/2017

China to Boost Military Muscle at Sea to Deter Foreign Powers

China is widely forecast to bolster its military power next year in the South China Sea to resist Japan, India and the United States, as well as the Asian states that dispute Beijing's maritime claims.

17/12/2017

Trump sets out national security strategy of ‘principled realism’ and global competition

President Trump placed himself at the center of a new national security strategy Monday, casting his election as a pivot from failed policies pushed by his predecessors and presenting his “America First” doctrine as the organizing principle for U.S. engagement around the world.

19/12/2017

Weekly News 18/12 - 24/12

-(ABS-CBN News 20/12) Unified front on sea code for South China Sea claimants: Countries with claims in the disputed South China Sea should make a strong negotiating position when talks for a legally binding code of conduct with Beijing begin next year, according to the director of a US think tank. -(VOA News 20/12) China to Boost Military Muscle at Sea to Deter Foreign Powers: Scholars believe...

21/12/2017

Weekly News 8/1 - 14/1

-(Reuters 9/1) Philippines to protest to China over apparent airbase on manmade island, which it described as reneging on a promise not to militarise artificial islands in SCS. -(SCMP 9/1) US accuses Beijing of ‘provocative militarisation’ of SCS: US State Department adviser says China is pushing around smaller states with rival claims and limiting navigation in international waters -(ABS-CBN News...

09/01/2018

US accuses Beijing of ‘provocative militarisation’ of South China Sea

US State Department adviser says China is pushing around smaller states with rival claims and limiting navigation in international waters

10/01/2018